John Stones Believes His Decision Making Has Improved Under Best Manager In The World

Manchester City and England defender John Stones believes his decision making has improved under ‘best manager in the world’ Pep Guardiola, insisting he has learnt ‘when to put it in row zed’.

Pep Guardiola has made the development of John Stones his own project whilst he takes charge at Manchester City over the next three seasons. The Spaniard brought Stones for £47.5m this summer from Ronald Koeman’s Everton side and the central defender has started all three games of Manchester City’s Premier League campaign this season.

There is still doubts surrounding Stones’s decision making, but the 22-year-old insists he has improved under his new manager and revealed he saw City as the best club for his development.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Stones said “We can all regroup from putting it in row Z sometimes,” said Stones. “From last season to the start of this season I’m realising when to do it. That’s where I believe I have come on quite a lot as a player.”

“I was doing things before and then afterwards I would think, ‘Why have I done that? Why haven’t I just put it out in row Z?’ Already I can see a difference in my decision-making. I just want to keep improving, keep getting games under my belt. That’s why I moved to City and, in my eyes, the best manager to work with in football. Hopefully, he will bring me on leaps and bounds.”

“I’ve met Rio a few times and he has always been passionate about football. To get that backing from him in that respect gives me great confidence. He was a top player and I’m striving to be a top player. I know I’ve got a lot of hard work to get through before I’m winning titles and becoming the player I want to be.”

John Stones is expected to appear for England tonight, as they take on Slovakia in their first World Cup qualifying campaign in Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge of England.